Sony Exec Amy Pascal: 'I Don’t Want To Be Defined By These Emails After A 30-Year Career'

Sony Pictures co-chairwoman Amy Pascal is speaking out for the
first time since the cyberattack on the studio two weeks
ago. Well, that is if you don't count a brief apology she gave Thursday for racist
remarks involving US President Barack Obama that were leaked from
her email inbox.

"Mainly, it's distracting," Pascal tells Deadline. "I have a
company to run, I have movies to get out. I have 'Annie' to get
out and 'The Interview.' I have next year's schedule of films. I
have 6000 people who work here."

Pascal isn't letting the hack slow her down. "I'm not a victim
here. I’m going to be fine," she assures. "I didn't want to make
this about me. Everyone at this company has been violated and
nobody here deserved this."

But there is one leaked email that bothers Pascal the most — the
one in which she joked that Obama would like movies such
as "12 years A Slave," "The Butler," and "Django Unchained."

"The most hurt email came out … I'm so disappointed in myself,
that I ever would have had such a lapse in my thinking," Pascal
says.

When Deadline reporter Mike Fleming Jr. asked Pascal whether she
apologized to Obama directly, the Sony honcho replied: "I don't
know Barack Obama. I worked really hard for him in both of
his campaigns. I am inspired by him. I … I'm embarrassed,
deeply."

In the wake of the released emails, Pascal has a plea for the
public.

I would ask that they reserve some kind of judgment about those
stolen e-mails defining someone. This one e-mail was really hard
for me. Otherwise, I realize I'm just going to have to move
forward. I cannot worry every day, about the next thing that's
going to be read by the town about me, something I said in a
moment of weakness, stupidity or tactlessness.

Pascal relates the Sony hacking to other security breaches that
have happened this year. "This could have happened to anyone,"
she says. "It happened to Target and it happened to Home Depot.
This is what's happening, and we have to figure out how to defend
ourselves and how to take care of ourselves in this new world."

In the end, Pascal just hopes the scandal won't tarnish her work
in the industry.

"I don’t want to be defined by these emails, after a 30 year
career."

As for who's behind the massive hack, Pascal remains mum.

"That's not something I can talk about and that
can't be my focus here. For me, this is about moving forward ...
No one will tell us what movies to release, ever. Nobody should
be able to intimidate a company to not to do its business."